SPECIAL FEATURE

This recital weekend we enjoyed several amazing performances and celebrated Miss Tollie’s 20th year teaching at the Academy. To honor her, we have created a video that highlights her incredible career. Thank you Miss Tollie for all that you do for the Academy! Special thank you to Miss Caitlin for putting this wonderful tribute together. […]

As many of you know, last month Jr. and Sr. Company members participated in National Dance Week Foundation’s Kick It Challenge. After submitting our video, we were recognized as one of the winners of the 2nd Annual Video Contest in the category of dance studios! We are so excited to be recognized for our efforts and can’t […]

Please come join Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and several other dancers from our production at the Westport women’s club Nutcracker Tea on Saturday, Nov 29th from 2-4pm. Mary Ellen Marpe, wife of first selectman of Westport, Jim Marpe, will be doing a live reading of the Nutcracker, followed by appearances by many of the cast members! Dancers will take pictures, sign autographs, and delight your little one in their dazzling costumes. Sweet treats, cakes, tea sandwiches, hot chocolate, and tea will be served, and attendance of the event will include automatic entry to win several holiday raffle gifts. Tickets to this event are $40. All proceeds will go to support the performing arts program at the Waltersville school in Bridgeport, CT. Please visit http://www.westportwomansclub.org/ for information and to buy tickets.

Also this year, Westport’s Academy of Dance will be partnering with the longstanding children’s charity Al’s Angels, by holding a holiday Toy Drive at each performance of the show. Please join us in supporting this wonderful by cause by bringing a new, unwrapped gift with you when attending the performance. All toys will be wrapped by volunteers at Al’s Angels and distributed to children in need, battling cancer, rare blood diseases, and those in severe financial hardship. During this magical time of year, please help us to provide children who are less fortunate with a token of love and the holiday spirit! And please visit http://www.alsangels.org/ to find out more about Al’s Angels and what you can do to help their wonderful efforts.

April 25th-May4th is National Dance Week! To celebrate and acknowledge our love for dance, we want to join in the fun!

A special poster will be hanging on the wall by studio 1 where you can write, “Why you love to dance” and share with everyone. Maybe the music moves you or you love to dance gracefully like a ballerina. Whatever the reason, we want to encourage everyone to share their love for dance!

The studio is BUZZING this month with Alice and Workshop performances only two weeks away! Shortly after that we have our Spring Recitals and then summer is here! Talk about a great month of dance! Be sure to get your tickets to both of these wonderful events today!

In other news, some of our little dancers performed in NYC this past Monday for Academy teacher David Fernandez. The performance titled “Encore!” was a great success and a wonderful experience for all! Congratulations to all of the dancers involved!

Westport Academy of Dance teacher David Fernandez is at it again! Some Dance Company’s tickets for Encore! are up and on sale at Ticketmaster. Feel free to purchase your tickets, and pass the link on and spread the word! This special performance takes place on Monday, April 28th, 2014 at 7pm and is featuring some of the Academy students!

Also, please check out the Kickstarter campaign. Ticket sales can go to benefit Career Transition for Dancers, a great organization that has helped numerous dancers in transition from their performance careers. Our Kickstarter link is below, and feel free to also pass it on to other dance/arts enthusiasts.

Help support Some Dance Company on Kickstater! Click Here to make a contribution!

Finally, we leave you with a fun video put together by David featuring our lovely Academy Students!

Thinking about where you might want to go for a summer dance experience? We asked a few of our Company members to share their experiences from last summer. See Below.

CPYB (Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet): Carlisle, PA

Attendees: Elizabeth Rhoads and Abby Suppan Ages: 14

Did you have to audition for this program?

E: No

A: Kind of. You had to send in pictures in an echappé and attitude, but they judged your level from that and a placement class on the second day.

Why did you choose this program?

E: I heard great things about it from my neighbor, Nancy and friends.

A: I chose this program because it was recommended to me and I went with a friend.

What was your favorite experience?

E: My favorite experience was coming back and seeing how much I improved and how much the camp was worth it.

A: I loved living in the dorms and walking to class everyday. I found it relaxing and fun because I had the time to walk and talk with my friends.

My favorite activity out of the town and off the campus was going to Penn’s Cave. It was so much fun and so cool to see the inside of a cavern.

What kind of dance genres did you do?

E: I participated in ballet, modern, character and also supplemental classes including hip-hop, jazz, tap, modern, Pilates and yoga.

A: We did ballet, pointe, and jazz, but there was partnering offered for the older girls.

Did you learn anything new during your experience?

E: Definitely. Both times I went, I felt so much stronger and confident as a dancer as a whole once I returned. I also learned more dance moves that made others easier.

A: I learned a lot of new steps but I also improved my technique a lot

How long were you away or how long did you participate with this summer program?

E: I was away for 5 weeks but went twice, so 10.

A: 5 weeks (there is also a 2 week intensive in August)

Broadway Dance Center Summer Workshop Series, NYC

Attendee: Lulu Busk Age: 14

Did you have to audition for this program?

No but there is limited room in classes so you have to sign up early

Why did you choose this program?

I wanted to be able to commute in and out of the city, and wanted to get to dance with lots of different instructors. A great part about Broadway Dance Centers location is it’s only about a 10-minute walk from Grand Central Station.

What was your favorite experience?

My favorite experience was just the speed of it all. You are always moving and being asked to try or do something new. I loved having to learn combinations really quickly, and getting the privilege to meet so many new dancers and teachers who are all really helpful and kind.

What kind of dance genres did you do?

Jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary all in the workshop, and then I took ballet classes in my free time in some off the great open classes offered at this school.

Did you learn anything new during your experience?

I learned a lot of new styles and tricks at this program. In turning and leaping classes I improved, and I got to attempt some new styles and types of dance like house, vogueing, gliding, and popping. I also learned how to quickly pick up difficult combinations which is a good skill to have for auditions and fast paced classes.

How long were you away or how long did you participate with this summer program?

I did this program, and took open classes for 4 weeks but there are plenty of short workshops that students can attend.

ABT (American Ballet Theatre)

I’m Amanda Kenner and I’m 14. Last year I went to ABT Tuscaloosa Alabama. I chose this because I went the year before and I was familiar with the company. You do have to audition for it, but it’s not all that hard to get in. My favorite experience was the performance at the end, it was a recital of sorts. The intensive is three weeks long, and starts mid June through mid July. We learned ballet, modern, jazz, character, and Pilates even though it’s not exactly dance. We also took nutrition and anatomy classes on the weekends. Overall it was a great program and I really got a lot better. I learned all kinds of new steps, combinations, and dance etiquette.

We’ve combined these two great experiences into one show! Sign up and participate in one or both of these awesome performance opportunites. It’s not too late! : )

Alice – a fun and funky new take on the children’s classic, Alice in Wonderland. With original choreography from our own Courtney Poulos, this vibrant and unique performance is taking the full length production to Bedford Middle School. The show highlights jazz, tap and modern styles of dance, and features music crossing many genres. Auditions this weekend (February 1st) and Performances the weekend of May 17th!

Click here for a glimpse at pasts performances and a preview of what’s to come!

Winter/Spring Workshop offers an experience for dancers to work with teachers and explore alternative movement styles. A unique performance opportunity for Jr. II, Jr. Co. and Sr. Co. dancers to showcase faculty and student choreographed pieces at Bedford Middle School the weekend of May 17th* No auditions necessary, just sign up and be apart of a creative process.

As many of you know, last month Jr. and Sr. Company members participated in National Dance Week Foundation’s Kick It Challenge. After submitting our video, we were recognized as one of the winners of the 2nd Annual Video Contest in the category of dance studios! We are so excited to be recognized for our efforts and can’t wait to participate next year.

Each year we have another graduating senior perform their last Nutcracker with the Academy family. This year we asked that senior to tell us about everything their Nutcracker experience has meant to them over the years.

Name:Jess Riniti Age:17

How many years have your performed in the Nutcracker?12 years

What was you favorite part to perform and why? The year I was Clara when I was a freshman was my favorite because I got to act, I could watch everyone else, and it was relatively stress free.

What was your favorite year to perform and why? My favorite year was the year I was a flower, snow, pirouette, and lead chinese. It was a challenge to perform all of them in one year, but I enjoyed bring a new character to life every time I was on stage.

What will you miss most about performing in the Academy Nutcracker?I love the traditions, the backstage ambiance. I also love that it’s one big story and we’re all working together to tell it. It feels like a team effort even though we all have our individual parts. I will miss that and the family we form because of it.

Do you have any advice for young dancers interested in performing in the Nutcracker? Do it! It’s a tradition and it’s the thing I look forward to most in the holiday season. Looking up to the older dancers and then becoming one is so rewarding. And don’t get discouraged! The audience loves every part and every part is a good one. They’re ALL an important part of the story. Every audience member has his or her favorite, you never know who’s out their just waiting for you! And every part is what you make of it!

Over the weekend, Junior and Senior company members participated in National Dance Week Foundation’s Kick It Challenge. This event was to promote dance and fitness in the community. After a few rehearsals, the girls performed in several locations including downtown Westport. If you missed this live performance or if you want to see it again, here is the edited video of that day. This video is also up on NDWF’s website!

Attention Parents and Young Dancers! Want to master the skill of putting your own hair or your daughter’s into a classical ballet bun? We have the video for you! Wearing your hair in a bun gives you the look of a ballet dancer and eliminates distractions messy hair may cause. Westport Academy of Dance asks that girls 3rd grade and up, attend all ballet classes with their hair pulled back in a classical ballet bun.

Another Westport Academy of Dance season is rapidly approaching! Registration for existing families begins June 4th, new families can register beginning June 11th. Enroll in person at the studio, online or via regular mail. Read the rest of this entry »

Congratulations to this year’s cast of the nutcracker. We were so excited about our 30th anniversary production that we are posting the cast list early. Click here to be directed to our website where you can download the pdf cast list or click here to view the list on our site. the costume fitting schedule will be posted by Monday, 9/12. Again, congratulations everyone and we’ll see you in class next week and rehearsals beginning Saturday, 9/17.

If you noticed a “For Sale” sign in front of 345 Post Rd. West, it is because our landlord has put the property on the market. It is important to note that regardless of whether or not the property changes ownership in the future, our day-to-day routine at The Academy will NOT change at all in the near future! Read the rest of this entry »

Hi! My name is Samantha Sheppard and I’ve been dancing with the Academy of Dance for 6 years. Dance is one of my passions, as I’m sure it is one of yours! I’m currently working on a community project that will allow me to share my passion with other dancers who are much less fortunate than me, by donating recital costumes and leotards to Read the rest of this entry »

Westport’s Academy of Dance is excited to welcome fit for movement – a fitness/wellness collective that will offer ongoing classes and workshops in various styles of yoga, zumba, mat pilates, and nutrition to students, parents, friends, and the surrounding community.

We’re looking forward to sharing our space with the collective as we see great opportunity for all to benefit from these disciplines. We hope you will take a look at the course offerings and find value in those aligned with your aspirations and interests.

As a special thank you, the Academy will sponsor a private event on Monday 10/11, from 8:30am to 1:30pm, where Academy students and their families can meet a few of the instructors, learn about their respective disciplines, and participate in complimentary demo classes. Below is a summary of the planned events:

We hope that you can join us. Remember, all classes are complimentary for the remainder of that week. Check out the fit for movement class calendar to reserve your spot for ongoing sessions.

Westport’s Academy of Dance is excited to welcome fit for movement – a fitness/wellness collective that will offer ongoing classes and workshops in various styles of yoga, zumba, mat pilates, and nutrition to students, parents, friends, and the surrounding community.

We’re looking forward to sharing our space with the collective as we see great opportunity for Academy families to experience these disciplines. We hope you will take a look at the course offerings and find value in those aligned with your aspirations and interests.

As a special thank you, The Academy will sponsor a private event on Monday 10/11, from 8:30am to 1:30pm, where Academy students and their families can meet the teachers, learn about their respective disciplines and participate in complimentary demo classes. Below is a summary of the days events:

registration begins on monday, june 7th at 9am for returning academy families. check out our website for complete information. you can register in person at the studio, online via our website (sorry, no email registrations accepted), via fax or regular mail. new family registration begins tuesday, june 15th. we’re looking forward to another outstanding year!

click here to go to dance distributor’s website and request a copy of their new catalog. they have discounted prices and a great selection of dance clothing and shoes … the best part is they ship from pennsylvania … so transit time is quicker than discount dance supply who ships from california.

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The Westport Academy of Dance Blog is a forum for students, parents, teachers, dancers, and all those that are passionate about performance art to share their voice as key members of our dance community!